What Kind of Degree Do You Need to Become a Web Designer?
Aspiring web designers often wonder what type of degree they need to become web designers. The answer to this question can vary by different factors, including employer, type of work expected of them, and level of skill and knowledge of web design. While one company may hire a high school graduate with graphic design experience, another employer may require an associate or even a bachelor’s degree in web design or a related field. Each company has its own set of requirements and each job has its own requirements. In most cases, however, web designers should have some sort of degree.
What Degree is Needed to Become a Web Designer?
Academic requirements can vary for the aspiring web designer. One employer may go by talent alone while another requires a degree. Typically, web designers complete either a two-year associate’s degree or a four-year bachelor’s degree program. Being hired without a degree can great at the moment, but should the designer choose to switch jobs or employers, he or she may regret not earning the degree. Earning the degree not only provides the student with knowledge but also the opportunity to create a portfolio and obtain experience completing an internship.
Courses in a Web Design Program
Web design students pursuing the degree may be required to complete general education courses. Core and required courses in a web design program include:
- Data concepts
- Computer programming
- Written communication
- Programming concepts
- Math & logic
- Web design
- Application development
Are Web Designers & Web Developers the Same?
Web designers and web developers are similar yet very different artists. Web designers draw the illustrations, designs and graphics on the website. Web designers work with software programs like Adobe Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator. The Web developer is the professional who puts it all together and makes the site functional and operational. Web developers are also required to be familiar with computer science and computer programming.
When a person goes to a website, the beautiful designs, fonts and illustrations are thanks to the web designer. When you are able to scroll from page to page, hit submit or perform other things, it’s due to the work of the web developer. There are many web designers who are also web developers and able to perform all the required duties. While web designers aren’t required to know how to do everything that web developers can do, but it can be very beneficial if they know how to design and develop a website so the two can collaborate.
Career Outlook
As the eCommerce industry continues to grow, so does the need for qualified web designers and web developers. Although the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesn’t offer specific career outlook numbers for web designers, the BLS does predict that web developers should see a job growth of 15 percent between 2016 and 2026.
Conclusion
Working as a web designer can be an exciting experience and a great way for an artist to not just earn a living but also to showcase his or her talent to the world. Earning a degree to become a web designer can ensure a student receives a balanced education of the courses required for employment.
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